String Puppets
30208 王儷學 09 江亦婕
Johnson and Mariana were couples. Though they love each other, Johnson was too shy to share his feelings with Mariana. Recently, whichever Mariana ask Johnson question such as “Where did you go yesterday?”, “What is your hobby?”, or “Do you want babies?” but he always said “Nothing” or just keep silent. Last Sunday morning, Mariana found Johnson missing again.
“Johnson! Johnson!” Mariana called his name loudly but no one answered her.
“Johnson? Are you home? Where did you go last night?” Mariana kept asking with no reply. Suddenly, there was a loud crash upstairs.
Mariana strode to upstairs in confusion and saw Johnson lying on the ground.
”Johnson? What’s going on with you? Why are you lying on the ground?” Mariana spoke in worry because Johnson seemed not very awake. But he became conscious soon. He opened his eyes and saw his wife, started to move.
”Hey! Don’t speak so loud. You make me have a headache.”
“You haven’t answered my question yet. Where did you go last night? I ‘m so worried about you. I couldn’t see you every Sunday when I got up. And you always told me nothing. I’m fed up with apprehensions over you. I just want an answer. Are you having affairs with somebody?” Mariana said it agitatedly.
“What’s wrong with you? Yesterday, I just went outside to relax. Having some beer at the bar; I was so drunk, and that’s why I lied on the ground.”
“Who is she? Let me guess, a sexy nurse with big breasts and long legs in your hospital? Come on! Just tell me the truth!”
“Mariana, please calm down. Trust me! That’s the answer, ok? I’ve been in love with you for twelve years. We love each other so much, don’t we? Why can’t you give me some freedom? Mariana, you changed, you were considerate and patient before.”
“Johnson…”
“I’m so sorry for making you worried. But please trust me; there is no one between you and me.”
“Alright. I trust you. …I apologize for misunderstanding you.”
“Good. …I’m having a terrible hangover and I am too tired to talk now.” He went to the room, leaving Mariana along in the living room.
It’s easy to notice that Mariana was still full of concerns. She was afraid of her husband had extramarital relations. She had no idea what would happen to her.
To find out what Johnson did, Mariana decided to follow him this Sunday night. After going to bed, Mariana pretended she was deeply asleep, but secretly paid attention to Johnson. At about one o’clock, Johnson got out of the bed and dressed up. Mariana kept pretending until he left. “Let’s see what he was doing.” Mariana thought in her mind. She saw Johnson pass by road and road. Going through the forest, Johnson stood in front of the graveyard, getting into the abandoned cellar. Thus, Mariana decided to get in to the cellar to see what he was doing.
When Mariana got into the cellar, she smelled a strong stink. She walked into the deepest room of the cellar. She saw a lot of string puppets that just looked like real human hung on the ceiling.
“Johnson?”
Mariana appeared in sudden that Johnson had no idea what to do with his hands and feet.
“Gosh! How come you are here, Mariana? I mean… you should be at home now. And… …” Johnson spoke in a flurry. He could feel that every part of his body was in the cold sweat.
Mariana didn’t look at him. No one sounded on, only the wind roaring through the cellar. After a short time, Mariana broke the silence.
“Johnson, I believe that it is necessary and important to a couple to trust each other. But what you have done just make me feel disappointed. See? What are these? You always tell me nothing. ” Mariana spoke in sadness and took a black and unknown things from the desk.”Is it a part of a string puppet? ”
“Well, yes. I can explain it, so… please promise me not to cry or shout.” Johnson kept saying.
“I have a very special hobby. This hobby is too strange to tell everyone, including you, my dear Mariana. ”Johnson picked up a doll’s arm from the ground. “These string puppets are made from real human beings. I stole dead bodies from graves and took them here. I used string to hang the dead on the ceiling.” Johnson’s eyes shone the light of enthusiasm.
“What? You made the dead become string puppets as your collections?” Mariana was too shocked that she knelt on the floor. “Oh my god…What kind of person I have married?” Mariana couldn’t help but shiver.
“Mariana…I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you the truth. …You won’t tell anybody, will you? I love you…”
“Johnson! Robbing tombs is illegal! And it’s also immoral!”
“I know…but I just can’t help it. Don’t you think it’s a new kind of art and I believe that it will be popular in the world with my effort soon. Look at those string puppet; they’re as real as a living person. And look at their arms and fingers, what a beautiful and unheard-of art!” Johnson held Mariana’s hand and showed her his “collection”.
“You’re sick!” drew back her hand, Mariana walked toward the exit.
“Mariana, where are you going?” Johnson followed.
“I’m leaving you! I am going to tell the police!” Mariana kept walking.
“No! Please don’t leave me, Mariana! I love you! I can’t live without you! ”
Johnson knelt down and held her leg. No matter how he begged her, Mariana was determined to leave. She pushed Johnson and ran away, leaving her perfume surrounding him.
Johnson lay with face downwards. He shook his head continually.
“Mariana… I won’t let you go. I won’t let you leave me. If you can’t accept me, I’ll do everything to make you stay with me by hook or by crook. ” He picked up a stave and ran to Mariana.
When Mariana awoke from the pain in her arms, she found that Johnson was using the needle and the string to draw her blood into the container.
“Johnson! What are you doing?” Mariana lost too much blood that she couldn’t exert herself. All she saw was very blurred, but she knew Johnson was close to her. Very close. She could smell his scent, his unique scent. She remembered that when she first met Johnson, she was deeply in love with him. She remembered that she liked to lean against his sturdy chest to smell his cologne.
“Don’t be afraid, my dear Mariana, I’ll do it gently….you will become the most beautiful puppet of my collection. I am drawing half of your blood out so that your skin will keep smooth after you become a puppet. I will inject a “good thing” into your body so that you won’t feel the pain when I use the string to stab through your hands, your feet, and your shoulders.”
“Jerk…let me go…”
Johnson looked at her in a deep love. Johnson held the syringe and slowly injected the poisonous drugs into her slim arm.
“Mariana…” soon, Mariana fell into the deepest sleep and never open her eyes again. After Johnson hung her body on the ceiling, he admired his prettiest string puppet. He suddenly laughed loudly, in tears.
“The world without you means nothing to me, Mariana. I’m sorry. I love you.”
After several days, people found Johnson hung in his house. A lot of string entwined his body. His face looked peaceful like he was just sleeping. No one knew what happened….No one knew that deep in the forest, the abandoned cellar of the
graveyard was the string puppet museum of this strange-hobbies man.
